We woke up to gray skies and spitting rain, so our rainsuits were an absolute necessity.   We left Topeka and hit U.S. Highway 75 North until it hooked up with Highway 34 West to Lincoln.  We rode in rain for what seemed like hours.  Thankfully, by the time we got to Lincoln, the weather was improving, so we decided to try and make up some lost time by getting on Interstate 80 West. 

Our stomachs started telling us it was lunch time by the time we hit Grand Island.  Also, my feet were telling me that I needed some dry socks.  Nothing is worse than riding in wet socks.  Wet feet usually mean a bad cold and sore throat and that was something that I wanted to avoid at all costs.  We spied a busy truck stop and pulled in for dry socks, food, and gas.   In that order. 

A truck stop is a handy place.  Kind of like a small Wal Mart with a cafeteria.   I quickly found some socks in my size.  So I pulled off my boots and wet socks and put on the new, dry socks.  My feet sure were happy about that!  The dining room inside the truck stop smelled like hamburgers and onions.  It was warm and inviting, so we decided to sit a spell in hopes that the rain would completely stop.  We ate lunch and started to get very comfortable.  That's when it gets real hard to get back on the bike.  A full stomach and warm, dry clothes.  Oh, my.  Why won't the rain go away?  We had no choice but to load up and get on down the road.  Actually, the rain wasn't falling so hard now and we were staying dry.

The night before,  Jan and I had decided to hit Highway 2 just outside of Grand Island.  It looked like a good road on the map and we were right.  No traffic at all.  Actually, no houses or people either.  We were riding along like the only four people in the entire world.   We were right in the middle of the sand hills of Nebraska.   All the farm houses were built out of sight behind the hills for protection from the high winds.  This day there was no wind.  We were lucky.  Only us and the BNSF Railroad.  Burlington Northern - Santa Fe.  Mile after mile.  We rode along all alone with the train lumbering down the tracks beside the highway.  Highway 2 across Nebraska has to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the entire country.  I would recommend it to anyone.

The gray clouds were breaking apart, revealing a blue sky.  We rode all afternoon on Highway 2, enjoying the peacefulness of our surroundings.  The ranches are so vast, almost beyond comprehension.   By late afternoon we reached the town of Alliance.  We knew that it would be dark if we tried to go all the way into South Dakota, so we decided to stop for the day.  It was a good idea.  There were several good motels to choose from as well as several nice restuarants.   The Holiday Inn Express looked almost new.  It was clean and offered a good variety on their breakfast buffet.    Tomorrow ~ South Dakota

It was pretty warm when we got up, I let Dawn sleep in a little because she wasn't feeling well from last nights dinner nightmare.   Went to the office to pay, the nice older couple running the show said they were having a pancake breakfast in a little while....Thanks, but I don't think Dawn is quite up to food right now!  Instead, I did a couple laps in the pool, and sat in the hot tub for awhile.  Tyler and I packed up the tents and gear, and after we showered and changed, we headed back on down the road!   

We continued our trek down I-70, and stopped for gas & lunch in Topeka.   Tyler, who had been snacking all morning in the back seat, decided he didn't want lunch.  He wanted to stay in the truck and listen to his "Metallica" CD, because Dawn wouldn't let him play it while driving (again!)   We went into a place called "Spangles", which was a cool retro-style 1950's-esq drive in restaurant.   They had a lot of old movie posters, records, comic books, photos, etc. of people like Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Buddy Holley.  It kind of reminded me of the milk shake place in the movie "Pulp Fiction".   We had burgers with chocolate shakes...delicious!  We spent a fair amount of time looking at all the nostalgia on the walls.   This allowed Tyler to get halfway through his "Adam Sandler" CD as well!   It was a much better dining experience than the night before.  

It was pretty hot in Kansas, especially since we were walking through fields with snow patches this time yesterday!  Didn't bother us much though, since we spent most of our time in the air conditioned truck.  Our goal is to see if we can make it past St Louis today!

Here are some pictures from home!!! It was so good to see everyone :)

New pictures up under Melbourne, Oklahoma City and Louisville!!!

Let it be known -- Taco Casa has, and always will have, the best tacos in Topeka. Don't try to prove me wrong, because I have tried them all, and Taco Casa reigns supreme. Went to lunch with Dad and Brady today, and enjoyed every last minute.

Today is my Momma's birthday!! Didn't get to see her, but had family birthday dinner on Wednesday, before Brooks left for Vegas, and will see her tomorrow. I hope she had a good birthday, because I know she counts everyone else's birthdays as national holidays. I felt badly that I couldn't do more, but next year should be so much better.

Had Renna Hunter rehearsal tonight -- actual awards are tomorrow night. Re-blocked "Be Our Guest" and enjoyed some Q.T. with one amazing cast. I will miss them and all the fantastic fun that goes along with them. They made this summer a joy, from start to finish!

Enjoying a last couple of days in T-town. Still not packed. I swear that's getting done sometime in the next two days ... I swear.

My happiest moments today: having a long lunch with my dad, seeing an old middle school teacher that I think is amazing, and getting my very own Tide pen, so I don't have to steal my roommate's. Sometimes its the small things that are the very best.

I'm still at home, trying to prepare for Sunday. I have little piles of stuff all over the place, but I'm trying to contain my disaster area to my room, so that I don't disrupt my roommates more than necessary. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little overwhelmed this week -- I don't know how to exist out of a suitcase, and I hate saying goodbye to people -- but I'm also really excited!